I made it through last week without eating sugary dessert items but there was some compulsive eating so I can’t call it an unqualified success. Chips and the like need to be added to my list of no-no items.

However I am happy to report weight has been lost. Yayyy! About ten pounds which puts me at almost what my weight was before Christmas. I have several more pounds to go but I am pleased about this progress.

My friend Gail, and Holly’s mom-in-law, sent me this email:

Love this Doctor!l
Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it… Don’t waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two body, your ratio two to one.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain…good!
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?
Q : Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Oh no! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ‘Round’ is shape!

Well… I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO, what a ride!!”

AND…..

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

Yes, I made it here to Maryland last Thursday. Paul was awesome in helping me get ready to leave home. I’d been sick all week with what I thought was my sinuses but Tracey was sick with it this weekend. Since sinus problems aren’t something you can catch then I obviously had a virus or something. She’s doing better today but I feel bad I gave her something then left her at home to deal with it.

It was rough but I’ve made it for just over a week now without sugary items. Yay! Holly and I went to the movies on Friday while Paul watched baby Faith. I did get popcorn, a lemonade icy (lemonade is on the ok list for now) and water. That was it! We saw Prometheus by the way. It was good. It is a prequel to the Alien movies. A bit vague on some points but Holly and I had fun debating what it all meant.

On Saturday we had popcorn again while we watched Predators (the new one). Holly ate Junior Mints on the sly. I didn’t know until I started to clean up. Bad Holly! I got back at her, without meaning to, Monday night by watching Cake Boss. She doesn’t feel like she can eat sugar because of me and complained the whole time. It seems watching other people eat cake without being able to eat some yourself is hard for some people. Who knew? I averted my eyes during those scenes and tried to distract myself by talking to Holly who advised me I was crazy. Lol.

Really, I’m not into self-torture although Holly thinks I am. I just enjoy watching flour and sugar being used to make incredible works of art. Buddy was on Cake Challenge several times and I sort of followed him from that show to Cake Boss. I don’t watch all the time but it’s fun to check in and see what’s happening with him and his family.

To celebrate my sugar-free ten days, I am making strawberry shortcake today. Normally I like to use a sugar-free strawberry glaze but I haven’t been able to find any this year. I’m not happy about that. I like to use it instead of syrup on my pancakes, too. But I’ve made do with regular strawberry glaze; the whipped cream is sugar-free and the biscuits are home-made with little sugar. It’s a tasty treat that doesn’t stir up all those cravings. I’m looking forward to it.

My friend Diane sent me an email last week and with her permission, here it is in part:

Diets do not work. It is a known fact. Your body will get confused with lack of food, then when you give in and eat more, your body reacts by storing more in case of the next starving time.

Me: I know and it sucks. I wish dieting works, it would be nice just to be able to go through the whole denial thing once and be skinny forever but that’s a pipe dream for sure. The whole diet industry is only around to make money, not because they have a genuine caring for the fat to obese people they are supposed to help.

You need a lifestyle change. Try only eating food that has no preservatives/additives in them. It means you have to cook them.

Me: Lol. She’s killing me here. Talking about changing your lifestyle and actually doing it are two different things. I’ve talked about for years. But actually doing it? It’s like I said, tomorrow never comes. I do like to cook, I just hate cleaning the mess up afterward.

I remove all processed foods from my life and added fibre, fresh fruit, vegs, red and white meats, oats, etc. I prepare them at home and cook and enjoy.

Me: I don’t eat red meat. I stopped for a lot of reasons and I keep thinking poultry’s gotta go, too. Some day it probably will. I’m working on getting more of the fibre, fruits and veggies.

You can substitute coke/soda/purchased drinks with fruit juice/veg juice/herb teas you make at home. (Think juice extractor.)

Me: I stopped drinking sodas many years ago because of kidney stones. I love fruit juices but they can be abused so I try to limit them. Herb teas have recently been added to my diet. I do like them and they do help with cravings and um, cleaning the body out. As it were. I’ve always loved to drink water and I drink six to eight glasses every day.

I even make my own bread, chocolate, and ice cream (minus the preservatives/additives).

Me: Oh, man. Diane. I’m whining here and my mouth is watering.

I have days where I only eat fruit all day. As much as I want. It is convenient when I don’t feel like cooking or am busy writing. And really tasty in summer with our wide variety of fruits.

Me: This is a good suggestion. I’m just not sure how Paul and Tracey feel about it. Maybe a chef salad for them?

Diane’s email made me realize I needed to clarify some things which is why I posted it and made comments. I’m not dieting. I am trying to change my life. It will not be easy because I have a serious control problem where sugar is concerned. I can’t just eat a little and push it away; before it’s all over I eat the whole thing if I can. For me it’s like a siren’s call that can not be ignored.

I have no idea if I’ve lost weight this week since I don’t have access to my scale. Stay tuned.

This week’s reason to lose weight: I need to get new clothes and it would be nice to get them a size or two smaller.

My goal for the next week hasn’t changed: stay off the sugary items.

Sue Santore has a great post this week and a great recipe for a breakfast smoothie. Blueberry, yum.

I made it through to the seventh day. Wednesday I fought off the cravings for something sweet all day. Thursday was actually a pretty good day. Friday I braced myself for the worst because I went grocery shopping. To keep from buying inappropriate ‘junk’ foods for a quick fix I made sure I ate a decent meal before I went into the combat zone.

Do you realize how grocery stores, drug stores, dollar stores, retail stores and convenience stores are set up? If you have the slightest pang of hunger, a niggle for something to munch, the slightest weakening of will they have made it easy for temptation to overcome your better judgement.

From the minute you walk in the store you are surrounded by displays of snacks of all sizes, shapes and tastes. Even the bakery is right there beside the produce section. Before you can leave the store you have to stand in line with candy and other munchies within reaching distance. I felt like whimpering the entire time. The odds are really stacked against anyone succeeding for long on a diet. But I was strong and made it through the several hours it took me to shop.

I taped The Five and watched it when I came home. I couldn’t believe it. Even they were conspiring against me with Bob Beckel munching on a plate of donuts in defiance of Mayor Bloomberg in N.Y. Honestly Bob? Take it from me, you’re just cutting your nose off to spite your face. Bloomberg really doesn’t care.

Fortunately, Bob didn’t tempt me with his donuts. Then Saturday came. It was a rough day for a lot of reasons. We’ll just leave it at that. I went through all the recommended diversions. I gave it about two hours before caving. I really wanted to run to the store for some chocolate but I did manage to resist that particular urge.

I made some peanut butter junkie instead. Does it make a difference if I said the sugar is a natural pure cane sugar and not the white kind? Or the peanut butter is Skippy Natural Super Chunk? That I used Brummel and Brown’s yogurt butter and pure vanilla? Probably not, but I did try to keep the damage to a minimum.

As of today, once again, I’m at two days with no sugar. It’s not been too hard this time. For one, the peanut butter junkie wasn’t all that great, it just didn’t taste good this time for whatever reason. Sunday was a good day in spite of my slip up and I got a lot done. For two I woke up sick on Monday and I’m still not doing that great so no cravings except for sleep.

Now the good news. I lost five pounds anyway as of today. Yay! Part of it is probably water weight but I’ll take it. The urge to weigh myself again has been with me all day but so far I’ve resisted that, too.

This week’s reason for getting in better shape: Not being able to close my mouth is a stupid reason to die too soon.

Goal for this coming week: It’s going to be a challenge but again it’s to stay off the sugary things like candy bars, cakes, etc., because I am travelling to Maryland this week. Travel is another excuse I have for eating things bad for me. Also, I planned to exercise some this week but got foiled with being sick. I’ll see what I can do in Maryland.

So what have you been tempted with lately? How’s your will power? Do you have any weekly goals? What do you think of Bob Beckel? Be nice, lol.

First I have a huge ‘Thank you’ that goes to Sandy for giving me this virtual award. It really tickles me especially since I haven’t been a regular blogger in a while.

Next I have to apologize for the delay in response. I was in Maryland with Holly for nearly a week. I’m just now catching up on stuff.

Sandy’s blog is called Bibliophage’s Buffet. As you can tell from the title this blog is about books, specifically reviewing them. Check it out. I’m not only reading her blog but I’m adding her to my links, too.

When accepting this award there are responsibilities. What comes around, must go around.